Historical Views of the Rockaways

Douglas “Wrong way” Corrigan; 1938

From The Rockaway Museum Commentary by Emil Lucev, Curator Dedicated To The Memory Of Leon S. Locke

Douglas Corrigan, after saying he was going to California, landed in Dublin, Ireland with his $900.00 crate, July 18, 1938. His flight of 28 hours and 13 minutes began at Floyd Bennett Field in nearby Brooklyn.

A retired NYC cop told me that people were going nuts to get to the site of Floyd Bennett Field when Corrigan came back. My friend Bill was on traffic detail at the airport on that day.

When one reads of these old time events, jealousy often sets in, because all has been done a long time ago and we secretly wish that we could build an airplane in our backyards, and fly it from an empty lot or field.

Imagine how many permits and permissions from all sorts of authorites would be needed today! And how many objections would be raised by those who cannot mind their own business! How about the sickos who would demonstrate against the flight because they have nothing else to do!

If You have Any Old Photos or Historical Information About The Rockaways Please Send It To: HISTORICAL ROCKAWAY C/O THE WAVE P.O. BOX 930097 ROCKAWAY BEACH, N.Y. 11693